Controlled Muzzle Loader Deer Hunt

[gbk]

Sorry but doesn't matter. If a CO cannot identify the sex, they have every right to seize the animals and issue you an infraction.

Likely sex is not relevant in this case-since the group had Either sex tags.
All of them.

If you read post 18 -where Relevance of sex is a spelled out requirement in the regulations(page 21)-the group met the requirements.

[kokes]

congrats on a fine deer hunt, I love that cooler set up!

[Marker]

Good work on the hunt, nice cooler set up.

[bellerivercrossbowhunter]

When we hang our deer away from camp we skin them when they are warm as well. We place the tag in a clear pouch from the dollar store and attach it to the tendon. This eliminates any issues when we are not with the skinned-out deer.

A few years ago a guy in another camp was fined because his deer was hanging in camp and he had the notched tag in his pocket.

[Ahuntr300]

Guys, I hate to belabor this point but it's pretty clear that the regulations do not say that if you have a tag for either sex, you have permission to obliterate sex identifying features. This could be a costly assumption to make if you are challenged by a CO. Below it says that you must keep the head with the animal, which in my view means attached to the animal until butchered. Why take a chance for trouble.

With all due respect, If you do not have the head or sex identifying features, It will be up to the discretion of the CO if you just get a warning or they seize the animals and fine you, but the regulations are pretty clear that you must maintain identifying features. That way MNR can for example assess/verify how many does or bucks are harvested.

From the MNR Tagging regulations:
https://www.ontario.ca/document/onta...tags#section-3

Capture.jpg

"Summary of species tagging locations and identifying features
Species Tagging location and identifying features
White-tailed deer Attach the tag to either the antler or the ear, keeping the head with the animal
Elk Attach the tag to either the antler or the ear, keeping the head with the animal
Moose – bull Attach the tag to one of its hind legs with scrotal sac attached to that leg by connective tissue
Moose – cow Attach the tag to one of its hind legs with vulva attached to that leg by connective tissue
Moose – calf Attach the tag to the lower jaw, which shall be left whole
Black bear Attach the tag through the cartilage separating the nostrils
Wild turkey Attach the tag to the lower part of a leg
Wolf/coyote Attach the tag through the cartilage separating the nostrils"

[JUDGE]

That was by concern also.

[delmer]

I'm going to email to get clarification as what exactly "keeping the head with the animal" means. Does it mean physically attached, or can it be removed and stored with the animal, as may be the case of a deer that is being caped out for a mount? If it means physically attached, the wording could be changed to better reflect that by simply saying "keeping the head attached to the animal".

[Bo D]

I don’t know but to me the animals were in the processing state and were being hung to bleed out and aged before the actual butchering took place. If you look up each tag was still with the deer attached to the hangers. And as mentioned the tags that they had and the controlled hunt unit they were in either sex could be taken. But I do believe some clarification is needed in the regs whether the head should still be attached or still in your possession until the actual butchering takes place…

[delmer]

I got a quick reply from a CO regarding what "keeping the head with the animal" means according to the regs. The following is an excerpt from the reply I received.

You ask: “If skinning a deer which will be butchered at a later date, must the tagged head stay physically attached to the animal?” The reality is that the tag can only be in one place or the other. Attached to the antler/ear as part of the carcass containing the meat, or attached to the cape/head once separated. The tagging instructions allow for the removal of the head and say to ‘keep the head with the carcass until it is being transported to the site of processing and is being processed for long term storage’. “With” can be “on” but doesn’t have to be.

So there you have it. The head can be removed, but must be kept with the body until the meat is cut and wrapped. The CO mentioned that their preference is to leave the head attached until processed, to prevent any doubt as to whether the removed head belongs to the hanging body.

[Pioneerfreq]

Official answer from "Ask a CO"

"Tags for deer, when required, are to be attached to the ear or antler and the head is to remain with the animal.

There is no requirement to leave sex parts or organs attached in the case of deer.

If the hunters planned to leave the deer unattended (not immediately accompanying the deer) then the tag should be affixed to the antler or ear and the head should remain with the animal."